A fairytale castle nestled deep in the Charente countryside

luxury hotel in massignac

Honey-stone chateau with bedrooms in the main property and separate farm cottages

Luxury wellness space with treatments available for the entire family

Michelin star restaurant with dishes inspired by ingredients grown on site

Domaine des Etangs

Journey back to the golden age of romance in Domaine des Etangs – a meticulously restored country retreat. With its elegant turrets, sweeping grounds and magical setting between forest and lake, it's a château fit for royalty. Paddle a rowing boat on the water, cycle through the estate or simply sit back and savour the tranquil surrounds.

Outdoors, you'll find yourself in a storybook landscape of waterways and woodland. As you stroll, look out for wildlife – from herons and otters to deer and Limousin cows. Inside, the real jewel in the crown is the collection of exclusive bedrooms. Set within individual buildings dotted around the grounds, they are rich in period features. The hotel also features a wellness space with treatments for the entire family and Michelin-star restaurant Dyades, which offers delectable dishes created with ingredients grown on site.

If you ever tire of the views and natural beauty, there's plenty around this boutique hotel to entice you out. The Haute Charente Lakes, woven through with walking trails, are a picture-perfect place to spend a day. Or you could swap two legs for four and spend an afternoon horse riding. Little ones are well served too, with the Haute Charente Adventure Park nearby. Whatever you choose, returning to the spellbinding Domaine des Etangs at the end of each day is sublime.

29 rooms

1 restaurant

1 floor

Hotel type:

Photos

The rooms

You could sleep within the fairytale turrets of the Château, where light wooden beams and stone lend the old walls a modern designer look. Or your bedroom could be in the Longère – rural buildings transformed into restful, 21st-century residences. Then there are the Farmhouse Cottages. Tucked into the landscape, they’re created from a contemporary combination of stone, glass and wood – and even come with access to an electric car.

Centaure Cottage

Not available for your dates

Sleeps: 4 People.

Centaure Luxury Farm Cottage is spacious and offers view over the countryside, 2 bedrooms, one with King-size bed room and one with double (queen) bed,

cosy seating area with fireplace and coffee and diner tables, kitchen , as well as en suite bathroom with bath or separate walk-in shower. Rooms are air-conditioned and have complimentary WiFi access. Cottage size: 164 square metres.

Points of Interest

Things to enjoy

Where you dine is just as irresistible as what you eat at Domaine des Etangs. Relish Michelin-starred creations in Dyades – made for elegant evenings out. Hold celebratory dinners in the private Château dining room, Monade. Or eat in the fresh air, with barbecues overlooking the woodland. Whatever you choose, it’ll be in tune with the seasons – a celebration of farm-to-table fine dining.

Dyades

Meals served: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

ONE STAR MICHELIN The restaurant is inspired by the dyad- the marriage of two complementary ideas and principles. It is also the name of the gourmet restaurant at Domaine des Etangs. A necessary balance to strike in any situation but particularly in the case of gastronomy- where a sense of harmony between ingredients is the key to a successful dish. A balance is also created between the rusticity of the restaurants old stone interior and the refined nature of the culinary experience

Reviews

Overview

Luxurious, tranquil, modern, perection

By Eric from Shaw Island, USA

Stay date: March 2016

My Trip Type: Couple

We had high expectations for our stay here based on reviews we had read in national publications. All expectations were far surpassed. The staff was all lovely, attentive, helpful, and cheerful. The accommodations were beyond luxurious, the location beautiful. The restaurant was superb. I can't think of a thing I would change, expect to lengthen our stay. We will return and for a very long stay next time.